This website is for Private Investors* only

*A Private Investor is a recipient of the information who meets all of the conditions set out below, the recipient:

Obtains access to the information in a personal capacity;

Is not required to be regulated or supervised by a body concerned with the regulation or supervision of investment or financial services;

Is not currently registered or qualified as a professional securities trader or investment adviser with any national or state exchange, regulatory authority, professional association or recognised professional body;

Does not currently act in any capacity as an investment adviser, whether or not they have at some time been qualified to do so;

Uses the information solely in relation to the management of their personal funds and not as a trader to the public or for the investment of corporate funds;

Does not distribute, republish or otherwise provide any information or derived works to any third party in any manner or use or process information or derived works for any commercial purposes.

Asia report: Markets move sideways as Korea tensions ease

21,480.90

07:44 19/03/18

31,513.76

08:20 19/03/18

0.77

14:51 19/03/18

106.10

14:52 19/03/18

1.94

14:51 19/03/18

Markets in Asia were little moved on Thursday, after a big earnings session on Wall Street overnight and oil prices picked up from fortnightly lows.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was almost flat, losing 0.01% to 18,430.49, while the yen was weaker on the greenback.

It was last 0.23% behind at JPY 109.11 per $1.

The country’s exports rose 12% year-on-year in March, according to fresh data on Thursday, making it the fourth consecutive month of rises.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite was up 0.06% to 3,172.59, while the smaller, technology-heavy ShenzhenComposite was off 0.19% at 1,928.10.

Cross-border capital flows had eased in China in the first quarter, a spokeswoman for the country’s foreign exchange regulator told local media late on Wednesday.

South Korea’s Kospi was up 0.5% to 2,149.15, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.97% to 24,056.98.

On the geopolitical front, the tensions on the Korean peninsula were quieting on Thursday, as news emerged that a group of US aircraft carriers were not bound for seas near the Koreas contrary to earlier reports.

Investors were instead turning their heads towards the first round of the French presidential elections this weekend, which could have an impact on the euro.

The centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and controversial far-right Marine Le Pen were tipped as the most likely to make it to the election’s second round, with Le Pen campaigning hard to exit the eurozone.

Oil prices had traded lower overnight after an unexpected increase in US petroleum inventories and production.

Brent crude was last 0.82% higher at $53.37 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate was up 0.7% at $51.21.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.3% at 5,821.39, with Rio Tinto closing down 0.39% in Sydney trade.

It came after it reported a 3% fall in iron ore production year-on-year, though it did not change its full-year guidance.

The company had been traded heavily among international investors in recent months, according to local media, as its distribution channels in China were seen as “robust” as consumer demand for infant formula there rose.

Both of the down under dollars were stronger against the greenback, with the Aussie moving ahead 0.19% to AUD 1.3312 and the Kiwi strengthening 0.14% to NZD 1.4260 per $1.